Seattle Twist

September 13, 2011 – Seattle, WA. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery welcomes two diverse professionals in the field of comix for an extraordinary event on Saturday, September 24 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Editor and curator Warren Bernard will discuss cartoons in the service of commerce in connection with his new book and exhibition Drawing Power: A Compendium of Cartoon Advertising. He’ll be joined by provocative contemporary cartoonist and visual artist Tom Neely presenting his new graphic novel The Wolf.

Drawing Power examines the use of comic strip characters and cartoonists themselves as pitchmen for commercial goods beginning in the late 19th century. The colorful book and accompanying exhibition survey the American institution of cartoon advertising featuring comic strips, commercials, slogans, and merchandise employed to appeal to a broad range of consumers. Comics historian Warren Bernard has an extensive background researching and archiving material for important books, exhibitions, and institutions, including the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress. Bernard also serves as the Executive Director of the annual Small Press Expo (SPX) in Bethesda, MD.

Los Angeles artist Tom Neely will appear to read from and sign his new graphic novel, The Wolf. The book tells a simple love story, but one woven with surrealist horror, werewolf lore and its own brand of nightmare logic. With The Wolf, Neely progresses from the traditional cartooning style to a form that blends a fine arts approach to imagery. Neely’s paintings and illustrations have been featured in galleries, magazines and literary journals, as well as records, posters and CDs for bands like The Melvins, ISIS and Wolves in the Throne Room, among others. Earlier this year, he garnered attention as one of the authors of the cult hit mini-comic Henry & Glenn Forever. Neely’s self-published novel, The Blot, won an Ignatz Award in 2007 and made it onto several of the industry’s “best of” lists that year, including “Best Comics of the Decade” in The Comics Journal.

Listing information

Drawing Power exhibition reception and slide discussion with Warren Bernard
Special guest Tom Neely presenting The Wolf
Saturday, September 24, 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale Street (at Airport Way S.) Seattle 206.658.0110 www.fantagraphics.com
Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM

Now in its 6th year  Arts-A-Glow brings the magic and wonder of lantern art to Burien.  Join in the celebration on:

Saturday September 10th, 5:00-10:00pm

This is a FREE event.

This year the festival has changed locations and is presented in the lovely Dottie Harper Park, 421 SW 146th, ‘a magical evening in the forest.’

It will be a breathtaking walk in nature with lanterns created by many talented artists, those you create on-site, or lanterns you bring to join in the interactive procession (MAP).

This event will include lantern making , performers, face painting, tea leaf reading and treats for everyone to sample.

A special performance by Lucia Neare’s Theatrical Wonders is also planned.

Don’t miss it!

The Aki Matsuri Festival (or “Fall Festival”) now in its 14th year, is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of Japan and is presented yearly by the Eastside Nihon Matsuri Association (ENMA).

The Aki Matsuri festival will be on Bellevue College’s main campus this weekend

Saturday, September 10th (10:00am-6:00pm) and

Sunday September 11 (10:00am-4:30pm.)

Admission & parking are FREE!

The festival features several special events such as a leather artist, Kimono presentation, Mikoshi Gishiki (full scale Omikoshi from Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America) and Taiko drum presentations.  Bonsai, Taiko, and Japanese garden presentations as well as puppet shows.

Be sure to catch the West Cascade Puppet Brigade’s ‘The Inch-High Samurai’ a tale of a tiny young man who sets off in the world to find his fortune.  He proves to be braver and more clever than the largest and scariest of foes.

See ‘The Inch-High Samurai’ on

Saturday September 10th in the Carlson Theater at 12:30pm & 2:45pm

& Sunday September 11th in Room E129 at 1:45pm & 4:00pm.

Please note that the times and venues are not the same for each day.

ENMA (Eastside Nihon Matsuri Association) is a non-profit organization of volunteers who want to preserve and further the arts and crafts of Japan for the enjoyment of the greater Seattle community.

The Georgetown Art Attack returns on Saturday, August 13 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. This monthly event allows patrons to explore the creative industrial arts corridor as artists open their workspaces to visitors and Georgetown’s many creative enterprises turn up the heat.

Among the highlights: Trailer Park Cinema presents the 1961 classic “Door to Door Maniac” starring Johnny Cash and Little Ronnie Howard and ten independently curated vintage trailers full of vintage finds, local art & kustom goods at the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall; Augie Pagan’s “Peripheral Visions” at The Firm; Rat City Brass at 9 Lb. Hammer; Calamity Jane’s features paintings and drawings by Ken Hershenson; American Pie shows mixed media works by Yvette Endrijautzki and screen prints by Randal Hutchinson: the Nautilus studio presents the paintings of Robert Lane; Sage Artistry Studios proprietor Sherri Gamble invites the public to get their hands dirty with earth plaster finishes and experience other nature-inspired artistry through textiles, glass, and sculpture; Krab Jab Studio welcomes new artist Milo Duke with “Mercado Milo”, featuring portraits of produce with resident artists Michael Hoppe, Kyle Abernethy, Julie Baroh, Mark Tedin and Tenaya Sims; The Quiet Rrriot exhbition featuring Stella Marrs, Nikki McClure and Megan Kelso at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery; grand opening of Tin Can Studio dance/art/event space in the Old Rainier Brewery building in neighboring SoDo; and the usual carousing that distinguishes the historic Georgetown neighborhood.

The Georgetown Art Attack is a monthly promotion of the Georgetown Merchants Association: www.georgetownmerchants.org. For a printable map visit www.georgetownartattack.com. “Like” us on Facebook for regular updates and images.

Join us this Saturday, July 30 at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery in Seattle to meet exceptional cartoonist Anders Nilsen. Anders will be in town promoting his new book Big Questions, an anthology of the popular series collected by our Canadian colleagues at Drawn & Quarterly. This 600-page, 15-year project displays the development of the artist’s delicate rendering technique and idiosyncratic narrative approach to comix.

The festivities begin at 6:00 PM. Nilsen will give a slide presentation, answer big questions from the audience, and sign books. We expect he’ll arrive with an assortment of self-published rarities, so plan to arrive early. Fantagraphics Bookstore is located at 1201 S. Vale Street in the heart of Seattle’s historic Georgetown arts community. Phone 206.658.0110. See you soon.

Star Date Saturday, July 23rd, Hello Earth Productions is bringing back their ode to trekkies everywhere with another round of live performaces of classic Star Trek episodes. On this weekend’s docket is “This Side of Paradise”. Star Trek in the Park~! It takes place at Lavizzo Park on 21st and S. Jackson in the Central District at 7pm, and then several days following. Star Trek in the Park Schedule

On Friday, July 22, The Seattle Asian Art Museum presents Taal, a classic 1999 Hindi flick about a folk singer and the two men after her heart. A vibrant story that touches on themes of class and unrequited love–and of course, a fair dose of spontaneous dance. Bollywood fans would be wise to bring a blanket to Volunteer park for this crowd-pleaser. Free. 9:30 p.m. The Ampitheater at Volunteer Park, Capitol Hill.

When you’re out and about on Saturday, stop by the Sidewalk Sale at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. We’ll join with Georgetown Records to offer a huge selection of comix and vintage vinyl at amazing discounts. Hard to find, out of print comic books by Fantagraphics favorites starting at 50 cents each. Love & Rockets collections for as little as 5 bucks. Crumb, Clowes, Bagge, Woodring, Millionaire and more at half price or less. Not to mention hundreds of classic punk, ska, exotica, psych, metal, and rat pack platters on sale at Georgetown Records. Rain or shine, 11:30 to 8:00 PM. Come in and check out “The Quiet Rrriot” exhibition featuring Nikki McClure, Megan Kelso, and Stella Marrs. Don’t miss out!

June 28, 2011 – Seattle, WA. The Georgetown Art Attack celebrates independent artists on Saturday, July 9 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM as creative enterprises present a stellar array of visual and performing arts throughout the historic industrial arts corridor

Among the highlights: All City Coffee commemorates a decade as a Georgetown institution with a 10th Anniversary exhibition of neighborhood artists including Miaja Fiebig, Chris Pfeifle, Chris McMullen, Tom E. Hall, David Mazak, Edward Matlock and more; The Georgetown Trailer Park Mall marks its first anniversary with live music, treats and the recent addition of new art venues including the Shasta 1400 Pinata Trailer and the Interstate Art Space; “Peripheral Visions,” a collection of work from Augie Pagan at the Firm; Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery presents “The Quiet Rrriot,” an examination of the Riot grrrl zine movement featuring Megan Kelso, Nikki McClure and Stella Marrs; Elizabeth Scallon’s “Space for Thoughts” at Vecta Photo; Nautilus Studio presents “De-Vice” by Yvette Endrijautzki and Brandon Bowman with recent work by Richard Olmsted; New work by Barry Sean Little at Calamity Jane’s; ”Half-Man, Half-Creature” group show at American Pie; paper mosaic art by Eric Edwards and music by The Sweet Spots at Georgetown Arts and Cultural Center; Krab Jab Studios presents Tenaya Sims with resident artists Mark Tedin, Julie Baroh, Michael Hoppe, Sandra Everingham, and artist-at-large Kyle Abernathy; a painting sale at Mary Tudor Studio; as well as diverse dining, adult libations, exotic shopping, and delightful distractions at every turn.

Then join us on Sunday, July 10 for the annual Georgetown Garden Walk. Maps are available at the Bank of America lot at 12th Avenue S. and S. Bailey St. The Georgetown Art Attack is a monthly promotion of the Georgetown Merchants Association (www.georgetownmerchants.org.) For a map of Art Attack participants visit: www.georgetownartattack.com.

Saturday, July 2, Noon – 5 PM. This great free all-ages community celebration is Cal Anderson Park Alliance’s signature annual event. With four eclectic live bands, free root beer garden, Urban Family Photo Portraits, pie eating contest, pet/human look-alike contest, and feel-good, all-ages interactive fun. Everyone is invited: kids, hipsters, parents, friends, lovers, drag queens and all Capitol Hillsters.

Performances will take the Sunbowl Stage all afternoon, among them kids band the Not-Its, girl pop band Cumulus, indie/rock/pop Land of Pines, and one more to be announced. The CAPA Root Beer Garden will be handing out root beer floats until the ice cream’s gone! The Skillet truck will be there again this year, with other food vendors and more surprises to be announced in June.

Learn about the man behind the park in a brief biographical presentation as the Langston Hughes production of “People in Parks: Cal Anderson” performance is presented from the main stage. Be prepared: he’ll try to register you to vote!

PLUS: More free activities, including Spin Art Bike and Hoola Hoop Contest. And the childrens’ wading pool WILL be open on Picnic day!

This is a family-friendly, all-ages event to celebrate our independence and our community! Contact info@calandersonpark.org.

Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul are back as judges on THE X FACTOR and you can get free tickets to see The X-Factor Auditions live.

THE X FACTOR judges will be visiting cities across the country auditioning contestants in front of a live audience and in Seattle, you can get free tickets to several different auditions at Key Arena.

Free Tickets to X Factor auditions.

Two of the country’s most gifted young cartoonists will debut their recent publications at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, June 18 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Paul Hornschemeier, from Chicago, presents Life with Mr. Dangerous and Seattle’s own Eroyn Franklin debuts the highly anticipated Detained.

Eroyn Franklin’s Detained explores immigrant detention centers in Washington State. Each side of the book is a continuous panorama that follows two immigrants as they navigate Seattle’s former INS building and The Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma – a powerful and evocative examination of cultural isolationism and the politics of xenophobia. The accordion-fold format lends a creative conceptual perspective to the protagonists’ poignant stories. This self-published work was supported in part by Artists Trust of Washington and the 4Culture lodging tax.

Paul Hornschemeier’s latest book, Life with Mr. Dangerous, was serialized in Fantagraphics Books Mome anthology before being collected by Random House/Villard. It follows the saga of a newly single woman in her mid-20s in an unfulfilling job as she struggles to find meaning and order in her life. The story is insightful and often funny, filled with situations that anyone who was ever young will recall. Hornschemeier has previously published three titles on Fantagraphics Books: The Three Paradoxes, All and Sundry, and Mother, Come Home.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street in the heart of Georgetown, only minutes south of downtown Seattle. Phone 206.658.0110.

June 1, 2011 – Seattle, WA. The summer festival season kicks off with a bang on Saturday, June 11 at the Georgetown Carnival. This eclectic event focuses on the creative diversity that characterizes the Georgetown industrial arts district. A wide variety of attractions will appeal to visitors of all backgrounds: circus entertainers, sideshows, aerial acts, carnival games, confections, music, alluring art, power tool races, and more! The Georgetown Carnival promises free fun for everyone from noon to 8:00 PM.

A fraction of the attractions: The Trailer Park Market of Curiosities featuring Teardrop Trailer hosted by the Tattooed Bearded Lady & Man with the Wolf Brothers, the Shasta 1400 Piñata Trailer Show hosted by World Famous Piñata-tamer, Comet Lodge Mercantile Rocket Trailer hosted by Resident Psychic Phenomenon, Frida Trailer Gallery hosted by Loveliest Aerialist of the Land, Lula B Lightning Trailer hosted by the Oddly Intriguing Mr. Tweed, Red Purse Airstream hosted by the Infamous Lady Trick Rider at Large, Vinyl Mosaic Trailer hosted by Smok’n Petz, Interactive Printing with Forrest Girl of the Wild, Georgetown Super 8 Film Festival in the Worlds Smallest Theater (a trailer); The Nautilus Sideshow and Stables Freakatorium featuring Side Show Banner Exhibition & the Pickle Punk Invitational; performance art and dance by Just Sage, Amy-Ellen Trefsger aka flatchestedmama, Jenna Bean Veatch, Leslie Rosen; Circus acts with S.A.N.C.A., Firthermore Collective, Acep Hale, the Baron of Illusion; Visual art by Nils Christian, Charles Peterson, Sara Ferguson, Scott Trimble, Evan Blackwell, Wyly Astley, Chris McMullen, Steve Withycombe, Richard Lemmert, Trey Jones/Derek Bruno, Morbid Anatomy, Jethaniel Peterka, Jason Soles, Wendy James, Michelle Smith-Lewis, Corey Urlacher, Kat Houseman, Yvette Endrijautzki, Brandon Bowman, Richard Olmsted, Tabasco Mills, Miller School of Art, Mark Tedin, Kyle Abernethy, Julie Baroh, Aimee Stewart, Anita Aurora, Elisabeth Vedrine and more.

Music by Feast, Creeping Time, Crutchman, The Eagles Aerie #1 Brass Band, Mercury Four, Moon Spinners, Virgin Islands, Meisce, Shame Wreck, Dark State Lines, Hell’s Bellows, Guardian Alien, The Mother’s Anger, Dapper Jones, Kaymak Musik, The Turpentines, Mannequin BBQ, Witchburn, Pilot To Bombardier, Tick Tock Man, Ghost Town Riot, The Missionary Position, Thaddilliac, Max Crumble Orchestra, Caela & the Dangerous Flares, Death’s Three Daughters, God’s Favorite Beefcake, and more.
All this and Harzardfactory’s Power Tool Races, Dead Baby Bike Jousting, the Mobile Elvis Museum, Hat & Boots Parade, Food Corral, Beer Garden, and spontaneous spectacle all over the neighborhood.

For updates and a more complete list of Georgetown Carnival artists, performers, activities, a map and schedule see: www.georgetowncarnival.com.

May 2, 2011 – Seattle, WA. As the Northwest’s grunge generation examines the implications of their misspent youth, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is pleased to present “Charles Peterson: Taking Punk to the Masses.” Inspired by the recent Fantagraphics book, Taking Punk to the Masses: From Nowhere to Nevermind, published in association with the acclaimed Nirvana exhibition at EMP, Peterson’s photography show will focus on the seminal musicians and social milieu that evolved into a global youth movement. The show opens on Saturday, May 14 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM with a reception for the artist and a guest appearance by extraordinary Seattle cartoonist Peter Bagge, who chronicled the grunge counterculture in his comic book series Hate.

Charles Peterson’s cinematic approach to photography captured the unrestrained enthusiasm of Seattle’s punk environment throughout the 1980s and 90s. His exhibition will include influential early bands like the U-Men and 10 Minute Warning (with future Guns N’ Roses member Duff McKagan), as well as audiences at local venues. Peterson’s work is central to both EMP’s Nirvana exhibit and the companion book, which documents the grunge scene from its inception with images, artifacts and oral histories provided by many of the participants (including Fantagraphics Bookstore’s resident curator). His photography is the subject of several books and has been celebrated in galleries and museums worldwide. The exhibition at Fantagraphics Bookstore will give audiences an opportunity to see this remarkable artist in his formative period.

Peterson will be joined by legendary cartoonist Peter Bagge signing copies of the recently released Hate Annual #9 comic and Yeah! collection. Bagge’s influential comic book serial Hate went beyond satire to help establish the attitude and aesthetics of the grunge era. In the latest issue, Hate protagonist Buddy Bradley returns to Seattle from his home in New Jersey so his wife Lisa can look after her ailing parents, once again mimicking the experiences of his readership. Making its debut is the Yeah! collection. Originally serialized on D C’s alternative imprint Homage, Yeah! tells the tale of an intergalactic all-girl pop group trying to make it big. Collaborating with artist Gilbert Hernandez of Love & Rockets fame, Bagge again hits his mark. According to Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go’s, “Reading Yeah! is a bit like reading my life story, as told in an alternative universe.”

Adding to the atmosphere, Fantagraphics Bookstore’s retail partners, Georgetown Records, will mount a related installation of vintage Seattle punk posters, records, and ephemera, alluding to a boutique record store of the grunge era. Russ Battaglia of Fallout Records & Skateboards fame will spin period platters. (Fallout was the site of an early Charles Peterson show, and a frequent hangout for artists and musicians.)

The evening will conclude with a concert at neighboring Mix nightclub with Bagge’s pop combo Can You Imagine? featuring musician/producer Steve Fisk. The group highlights harmonies by Michelle Plaitis, Sue Merrill, and Rachel Frost, reflecting the imagined music of Yeah! They’ll be joined by the return of the Capillaries, fronted by gifted cartoonist and musician Matthew Southworth, (who will also be on hand at the bookstore to sign newly minted copies of the collected Stumptown from Portland publisher Oni.) Also on the bill is Wormburner from Hoboken, New Jersey – Bagge’s home prior to his move to Seattle. (New Jersey is also home to Buddy Bradley and Yeah!)

The festivities on May 14 coincide with the colorful Georgetown Art Attack featuring visual and performing arts presentations throughout the historic industrial arts corridor. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street (at Airport Way S.) Open daily 11:30 – 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone 206.658.0110.

April 26. 2011 – Seattle, WA. The Georgetown Art Attack has become one of the region’s most provocative cultural outings, as adventurous residents explore the delightfully rustic industrial arts corridor and discover aesthetic treasures at every turn.

Among the many highlights of the May 14 Art Attack installment: “Taking Punk to the Masses,” seminal Seattle grunge photography by Charles Peterson, joined by cartoonist Peter Bagge signing copies of his new Yeah! collection and Hate Annual #9 at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery; a companion installation of vintage Seattle punk posters, records and ephemera at Georgetown Records followed by a concert with Bagge’s combo Can You Imagine? featuring Steve Fisk, with the Capillaries and Wormburner from Hoboken, N J at the Mix; new work by Mark Takamichi Miller and students at the Miller School of Art; the Nautilus is celebrating its one year anniversary with a show of Kyle Abernathy’s oil paintings, live music and a magician; a solo show of photomontages by Amie Stewart at Calamity Jane’s; live music by Cold Cold Ground and guests at the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall together with a show of industrial jewelry by Sonja Albin at Lula B Lightning and “I Don’t Know Shit” by mixed media artist Julie Trout at Frida Trailer Gallery; “Inky Spokes: Bicycle Inspired Art” by Aaron Asis, Deborah Scott, Greg Boudreau, Jethaniel Peterka, Nikki Mazzei, Soren O’Malley and Yvette Endrijautzki at All City Coffee; Krab Jab Studio celebrates a move to Studio 246 in the Origial Ranier Brewery complex, welcomes new member Sandra Everingham, and mounts a show by East Coast illustrator Jeff Menges with Mark Tedin, Julie Baroh, and Michael Hoppe; an opening reception for “One Act,” new paintings by Michael McDevitt at Georgetown Arts & Culture Center; mixed media photographer Misha Hunting and experimental images by John Gerhard at Vecta Photo Studio & Gallery; Foto Bolivia, a group photography exhibition of daily life in the South American country at La Catrina; “This a Way and That,” new works and limited edition prints by Mark LaFalce at Two Tartes Café; and, as always, much more.

Don’t miss the colorful and boisterous Honk Fest West festival of unconventional marching band throughout Georgetown on the evening of Friday, May 13. So plan to spend your weekend in Seattle’s outrageously unorthodox arts community. The Georgetown Art Attack is a monthly promotion of the Georgetown Merchants Association (www.georgetownmerchants.org.) For a printable Art Attack map visit: www.georgetownartattack.com.